Cities across the United States
struggle with gang violence, and the challenge can sometimes seem
hopeless. But you may be surprised to learn that we know a lot
about how to reduce gang violence — often dramatically. We just
have to act on what we know.

Our guest this time is an expert
on the subject, from a small but innovative California city:
Salinas.

If you know about Salinas, it
may be because your vegetables come from the Salinas Valley,
sometimes called the Salad Bowl of the World. Maybe you know that
John Steinbeck was born there. Or maybe you’ve visited, and enjoyed
the scenery, the nearly perfect weather, and the charming old
downtown.

What you may not know is that
this rural town of 150,000 has a big-city gang problem. But it’s
also a national leader in taking an innovative, evidence-based
approach to reducing the violence, by dealing with it as
a public health problem — one that can be prevented.

The strategy in Salinas brings
together law enforcement, social service agencies, nonprofits, the
faith community, and anyone else who wants to make a difference in
a county-wide group called the Community Alliance for Safety and
Peace, or CASP.

The director of CASP is
Jose Arreola, who is also the Community Safety
Administrator for the City of Salinas. (Disclosure: the City of
Salinas is a client of Boots Road Group, the producer of Dastardly
Cleverness.)

José Alfonso Arreola is
the City of Salinas Community Safety Administrator and Director of
the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace. He was born and raised
in San Diego, California. José graduated from San José State
University.

He co-founded and was
the founding Principal at Downtown College Preparatory
Alviso, a middle school in North San José, California.

Prior to joining the City of
Salinas, José was the Education Specialist and Extensions
Coordinator for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County. He
currently serves as the Millennium Charter High School Board
President.

José is also the site
coordinator for Salinas‘s participation in
the Government Alliance on Racial Equity, California
Cities Violence Prevention Network and the National Forum on Youth
Violence Prevention.

About the Podcast

A podcast for people who make progress: in nonprofits, government, politics, and socially responsible corporations. Your host: Spencer Critchley.